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LIBRARY OF COI 




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THE 



Climate and Health 
Gondltions 



OF THE 



State of Jo^sinNn. 



"What kind of eWnate has the im- 
migrant to eocpect, and what are the 
health conditions in JLoitisiana?*' 



By PROFESSOR J^ HANNO DEILER, 

OF TULANE UNIVERSITY. 



THE CUM ATE AND HEALTH CONDITIONS 

OF Tlli: 

STATE OF LOUISIANA. 



By professor J. HANNO DEILER, of Tulane Uni- 
versity, President of the New Orleans Gekman 
Society for the Protection op Immigrants. 

Translated from New Orleans Deutsche Zeitung, May 19, 1895. 

" What kind of climate has the immigrant to 
expect, and what are the health conditions in 
Louisiana?" This is one of the most important 
points about which those who intend to settle in 
this State desire information. 

Above all other requirements for a good cli- 
mate the difference between summer-heat and 
winter-cold should not be too great. How New 
(Orleans and Shreveport, the representative cities 
of South and North Louisiana, stand in this re- 
spect may be seen from the following table, which 
1 have prepared for the pamphlet of the '' German 
Society of New Orleans " from statements of the 
United States Weather Bureau up to Aug. 31, 1894 : 

The difference in temperature between the 
coldest and hottest day of the year was as follows : 

De^. F. Deg, F. 

Key West, Fla 59 Pittsburg, Pa 115 

San Diego, Cal 69 Cincinnati, Ohio lit) 

New Orleans, La 84 Chicago 123 

Pensacola, Fla 84 Columbus, Ohio 123 

Sacramento, Cal.. 89 Louisville, Ky 125 

Jacksonville, Fla 89 St. Louis, Mo 128 

Mobile, Ala 90 Denver, Col 134 

Atlanta, Ga 102 Des Moines, la 134 

Montgomery, Ala 102 Dubuque, la 134 

Shreveport, La 106 Leavenworth, Kan. ...136 

New York City 106 Omaha, Neb 138 

Philadelphia, Pa 107 St. Paul, Minn 141 

Baltimore, Md 108 Yankton, S. Dak 141 

Little Rock, Ark 108 Valentine, Neb 144 

Memphis, Tenn 110 Ft. Washakie, Wyo..l54 

Santa Fe, N. M 110 Ft. Buford, N. Dak..l56 

Nashville, Tenn 114 St. Vincent, Minn 157 

Portland, Me 114 Poplar River, Mont .173 

Boston, Mass 115 

Y'h^^ Marous Bdnjamia, 



Michigan Max. In. 37 Min. In. 32 

Iowa '• 37 *•' 36 

Nebraska - 33 " 17 

Wisconsin " 32 ^' 31 

Minnesota " 32 '• 16 

S.Dakota -' 27 ^' — 

California " 27 '' 11 

N. Dakota " 19 " 13 

Arizona " 16 " 3 

Montana '^ 15 '' 10 

Idaho '' 13 ^' — 

Wyoming -' 11 " 8 

In order to save space, we shall not mention all 
the States, but it may be remarked that the maxi- 
mum of Louisiana (64 inches iu New Orleans) is 
exceeded only by two stations : Hatteras, North 
Carrolina, 69 inches, and Tatoosch Island, Wash- 
ington, 92 inches. 

From the above official table, it is seen that Lou- 
isiana possesses a climate with less extremes than 
most of the other states of the Union — a mild 
winter, with hardly any snow and very little ice ; 
a summer-temperature cooled by the Gulf breeze, 
and more bearable than that of many other parts 
of the country, and copious rains, which secure 
to the farmer abundant crops every year. 

Besides the climate, the health conditions of a 
state are of great importance to home-seekers. 
Statistics show that the death rate among the 
white population of the State of Louisiana is 
15.12 per 1000 that is to say, from 66 white per- 
sons one death is reported annually. This death- 
rate is exceeded by many states, in which Lou- 
isiana has been spoken of as being a most un- 
healthy region. Reference is made to the follow- 
ing states with their death-rates per 1000. 

Louisiana 15.12 

Maryland 16.08 

Delaware 16.47 

New Mexico 16.82 

New Hampshire 17.43 

Connecticut 18.97 

District of Columbia 19.67 

Massachusetts 19.89 

New York (State) 20.04 

New Jersey 20.44 

Rhode Island 21.55 



It appears from the above that i!ie whites of 
JiOUisiana are niiKth better situated than the peo- 
ple of the '^ healthful '' States of Maryland. Dela- 
ware, ISTew Hampshire, New Mexico, Connecticut, 
etc. 

Even Washington, the capital of the country, 
the city of palaces and the home of the National 
Board of Health, which annually orders a hunt 
after •'^germs"' in New Orleans, can not compare 
with UvS. 

The same may be said of Massachusetts, the 
"educated'" state, and "'last but not least" of 
the great State of New York. They can not show 
health statistics like ours. 

It seems that we may be well satisfied with 
the death-rate of the whites in Louisiana and 
are fully justified in recommending our state to 
,^uch of our countrymen as are inclined to settle 
in the South. 

In regard to the principal causes of death, it can 
be said that so far the census reports only of the 
largest cities have been published and it is found 
that over 12 per cent, of the deaths in New Or- 
leans are caused by Consumption. 

How other cities and countries stand in this 
respect, the following table shows : 

New Orleans 12.10 Per cent. 

(Termany 12.70 " " 

Louisville. Ky 12.89 " " 

New YorkOi'ty 13.53 " - 

Providence, R. 1 13.57 " " 

Boston, Mass 15.15 " " 

Belgium 18.20 " " 

Russia 19.60 - " 

It is well known that every year many people 
in the last stages of consumption come here 
from the North to escape the severe cold of the 
Northern winter, and die here. In spite of this it 
is to be seen that New Orleans shows a very small 
percentage, as it naturally should, because con- 
sumption is a disease of the Northern climate and 
of large manufacturing cities, where conditions 
prevail, which, fortunately, are not known here. 
No one need stay awa}' from Louisiana on account 
of consumption. 

The next greatest percentage of deaths is 



caused by DiarrhcraJ Diseases, and New Orleans is 
quoted with 10. H7 percent.; other «ities. as fol- 
lows : 

New Orleans 10.37 Pei- cent. 

New York 10.52 •' - 

Detroit 11.27 " •' 

Baltimore 12.40 •' '' 

ttt. Paul, Minn 13.52 •• " 

Pneumonia follows with 4.97 per cent, of all 
deaths in New Orleans, against other cities and 
countries, as follows : 

Germany 4.00 Per cent. 

Belgium 4.50 " 

New Orleans 4.97 " '* 

England 5.10 " " 

Italy 5.40 '• '• 

Holland 5.70 ^' - 

Switzerland 6.00 " '• 

Scandinavia 7.10 " '• 

France 7.20 " " 

St. Louis 7.39 '• 

Chicago 8.85 " '• 

Cincinnati 9.39 " 

Boston 10.13 " '' 

IJussia 11.50 '• '• 

And now for the notorious Malarial Fever. The 
census reports as published contain only the 
laigest cities, and New Orleans appears with 4.26 
per cent, of all deaths, the highest fever rate. 
During the census year, there died in New Orleans 
292 persons of Malarial Fever, that is, one person 
out of every 828. 

If consumption kills 70 out of 100 needle mak- 
ers, or 63 lilecutters, or 48 lithographers. 37 
watchmakers, 25 painters and weavers, 19 shoe- 
makers, 14 carpenters, 11 brewers and 7 bakers 
and butchers in each hundred, is this a warning 
against engaging in such trades? 

And New Orleans shoics only one death from 
Malarial Fever out of every 828 persons! 

From France are reported 7 deaths out of 100. 
caused by Typhoid; from Germany, 4:}^. >Vho 
would think of warning people not to go to Ger- 
many or France for this reason? 

New Orleans has less deaths from Malaria thau 



the summer, and that only the negro can stand 
the heat. As far as the heat is concerned, the 
truth has heen stated ahove; in regard to labor 
it should be said that there are certain people 
who can never work, because they do not icant to 
— during the summer it is too hot and during the 
winter too cold for them, and they are willing 
to believe that only the negro can stand the heat. 

Our German gardeners and farmers, as well as 
thousands of other nationalities, have performed 
labor in garden and field for many years. They 
need no negroes and feel so comfortable that 
they prefer the sunmier to the winter. On ex- 
tremely hot days they work in the field only 
during the morning and afternoon hours, " lay- 
ing off"' during the midday heat as they do in 
other sections under similar conditions. 

Oases of sunstroke are reported from N^orthern 
and Western cities bj'the half-hundred; they oc- 
cur here but seldom. 

An important factor in describing the different 
climates is the statistics of rainfall^ as the work 
of the farmer can not be successful without rain. 
It is safe to say that Louisiana is a land richly 
blessed in this respect. 

In making comparisons with other States it 
should be remembered that in Louisiana rainwater 
alone has to be dealt with, while in the Northern 
States the amount of snow-water is included. 

Furthermore, it should be remembered that the 
rainfall in different parts of a state is different, 
and that, therefore, whenever the figures are at 
hand the minimum and maximum are stated. 

The States are arranged in the order as the 
maximum was reported, and fractions have been 
left out. 

Bainfall and Snoiu- Water from September 1, 
1893, to August 31, 1894: 

Louisiana Max. In. 64 Min. In. 52 

Oregon •' 49 •• 9 

Missouri '' 48 '• 38 

Kentucky '' 46 " — 

Texas '• 45 '• 10 

Indiana '• 44 '• — 

Illinois " 43 '• 36 

Ohio '' 41 " 31 

Kansas '' 38 " 20 



Thus we see the State of Louisiana is blessed 
with a uniform temperature, and can not only 
compare favorably with other states, but is. in this 
respect, far ahead of most of them. 

Ice appears here very seldom, and with the ex- 
ception of last winter (1894-5), when the se- 
verest cold weather prevailed everywhere, Xew 
Orleans has only once in twenty years had a sutR- 
cient quantity of snow to allow the people for a 
few hours the novel sport of snow-balling, which 
many preceding generations had missed. 

Regarding the Heat of Summer in Louisiana 
there prevails in many parts a totally ecK)neous 
opinion. It is believed that it must be warmer here 
than in other States because Louisiana is located 
farther south. Such reasoning is utterly false; 
living in close proximity to the Mexican Gulf, 
and having during the months of March, April, 
May, June, July and August almost constantly 
south winds, we always have a cooling sea breeze. 

It is a well known fact that residences with 
sufficient openings toward the south are always 
preferred. 

In consideration of the above, it is not astonish- 
ing that during the summer of 1894 the highest re- 
ported temperature in New Orleans was only 99 
deg. Fahrenheit, against — 

100 in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee and St. 
Paul. 

101 in La Crosse, Wis., and San Diego, Cal. 

102 in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Lynch- 
burg and Norfolk. 

103 in Columbus, O.. and Wilmington, Del. ' 

104 in Cincinnati. 

105 in Louisville. 

106 in St. Louis, Mo., Omaha, and Valentine, 
Neb. 

107 in Montgomery, Ala., Leavenworth, Kan., 
Boise City, Idaho, North Platte, Neb.. Fort Bu- 
fort, N. D., and Yankton, S. D. 

108 in Sacramento, Cal., and Fort Elliott, Tex. 
110 in Poplar River. Mon. 

113 in El Paso, Tex. 

114 in Red Bluff. Cal., and 
118 in Yuma, Arizona. 

Another widespread error is the impression that 
a white man can not work in this climate during 



Germany fiom Typhoid. Besides this the condi- 
tions in the rural portions vvliere the settlers are to 
oo, are much more favorable than in the city, and 
former reports show that liOuisiana has suf- 
fered less from Malaria than our neighbouring- 
states. Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas. There- 
fore the final statements of the census bureau 
regarding the fever rate in Louisiana may be 
awaited without fear, which reports, H is to be 
hoped, may soon be published. 

Attention is next called to the percentage of 
deaths resulting from Typhoid Fever, viz. : 

Xew Orleans 0.65 Per cent. 

Baltimore ].87 '' 

San Francisco 2.35 •' 

Philadelphia 3.24 '- 

Chicago 3.42 •' 

Louisville 3.47 " 

St. Paul 4.10 '' 

Germany 4.50 •• 

Belgium 4.60 '• 

Russia 4.80 '^ 

Pittsburg 5.83 " 

France 7.20 '' 

It is hardly necessary to refer to Yellow Fever. 
It was once thought to be indigenous, but the fact 
that there has been no Yellow Fever here for the 
past seventeen years proves that this is an error, 
and that our excellent and effective quarantine 
system, instituted by Dr. Holt, will continue to 
prevent its re-introduction. 

The result of these reflections upon the health 
and climatic conditions of the State of Louisiana, 
is that no fear need be entertained when a com- 
parison of the statistics of Louisiana is made with 
the statistics of any of the American States or any 
of the European countries; and every person look- 
ing for a new home may safely turn his footsteps 
toward Louisiana without fear of any great dan- 
ifer to hU health and life. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




